COLUMBUS, Ind. — Improved security and convenience at the Bartholomew County Courthouse are being sought through a new grant opportunity.
The $132,000 Court Reform grant has just been made available to all 92 Indiana counties through the Indiana Office of Court Services, county grant administrator Bobbie Shake said.
If the money is approved, a court wayfinding kiosk system will be installed on each of the three floors, Shake said. Three kiosks will display every court’s daily docket, as well as guiding the public to the right courtroom, she said.
One advantage the calendar kiosks provide is freeing up court staff from being distracted from their work to answer the questions from the public about locations of courtrooms or times on hearings, Shake said.
There would also be a fourth kiosk exclusively for participants and litigants, she said. This device will allow them to let the court know they have arrived, make address changes, update their attorney status, and advise whether they will need a court interpreter, Shake said.
Although all three of the Bartholomew County commissioners gave approval to apply for the grant, a few questions about the kiosks were raised.
“I think that technology will have a pretty short lifespan,” Commissioner Tony London said. “A system along those lines is coming soon that will alert people of their case status on their phones.”
London also expressed concern that kiosks might require a large amount of work from an already busy Information Technology department.
For the complete story, see Tuesday’s Republic.
